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KARACHI, Nov 10: The Sindh Governor, Ishratul Ibad, on Wednesday said all-out efforts were being made for the early revival of the Karachi circular railway, and issues in this regard are being resolved expeditiously.

He said this while talking to newsmen after inaugurating the service of the new Karachi-Faisalabad "Millat Train" at the Karachi Cantt.

The governor cut a ribbon marking the inauguration of the train from Karachi. The formal inauguration of the new train service had been made by the Railways Minister, Mian Shamim Haider, at Faisalabad on Tuesday.

The train has two China-made lower class air-conditioned coaches and six economy class ones.

Dr Ibad said that operation of new trains will bring a marked difference in the working and efficiency of the railway as far as inter-city commuting was concerned. He said it would also help improve comfort-level for passengers.

With regards to the circular railway's revival, he said the matter had been taken up on a fast track, and added that a meeting would soon be held to make a final review of the left-out issues that needed to be resolved.

To a question, the governor said that land had been the main issue of contention between the Sindh government and the Pakistan Railways, and that too had now been sorted out.

Regarding the funding involved in reviving the circular railway, he said the federal government would contribute towards funding while the railways would also generate funds.

When pointed out that unavailability of suitable transport connections for commuters at circular railway stations had been the main cause of its failure, the governor said the particular aspect would be an integrated part of the whole system.

Replying to another question, Dr Ibad said that the circular railway, mass transit system, and road traffic had different dimensions of mass transit, and it would be better for the city, if all possible mechanisms of mass transit were utilised.

To a question, he said that progress was also being made on the mass transit project as well, adding that both the president and prime minister were taking personal interest in the project.

Earlier, the DS Railways, Junaid Qureshi, briefed the governor about various programmes for upgrading the railways' system.- APP